Doctor Who_ Just War - Lance Parkin [33]
Her eye caught something she hadn’t seen before. Lynch was busy with something called a ‘crossword’, and so she asked George to come across and pointed out one of the bombsites.
‘That’s St Kit’s.’
Reed peered into the picture. ‘Yes...’ he said uncertainly.
Roz heard Kendrick coming into the room behind them. He began talking to Lynch in a low whisper.
‘It is, look, that’s Paddington station, that’s Portland Street, there’s the library. I live around there, remember?’
‘Yes, I think you’re right.’
‘Well,’ Roz continued wearily, ‘this gives the time of the bomb dropping as last night at 21:00. But that’s wrong. It happened the night before last, the first of March; remember I told you about it when we looked at the library?’
Are you sure you’re not getting confused? I picked you up there this morning as well.’
Cwej was there when I told you.’
Reed considered this. ‘By Jove, yes, he was. Well, that first night, the Germans were particularly lucky. Lots of fluke hits. The spotters must have got mixed up. We’ve had cases before where they’ve got the day mixed up. You know: it fell after midnight, so it’s a different date.’
And if that observation is wrong, then they all could be.’
Roz sat back, frustrated. Reed scratched his head.
‘It is rather complicated, isn’t it, Captain Forrester?’
Kendrick said, coming over and laying his hand on her shoulder. ‘Could you make us a pot of tea, and we’ll try to help you work our way through it?’
‘Admiral, I don’t think that will be possible. It’s a classic chaotic system. These planes might all be following strict orders but they are all subject to random factors. Bombers get lost in the dark and drop their loads at random. High winds, heavy ground defences, mechanical problems all alter what a plane is doing. Add to that the unreliability of our eye-witnesses and the length of time it takes to get reports here it
—’
‘Thank you, Forrester,’ rumbled Kendrick.
‘Sir, it’s a fact.’
‘There is absolutely nothing wrong witn our communications,’ he said calmly. ‘Those chaps risk their lives. Do you know how many wardens were killed last week?
What would you prefer? Smoke signals?’
‘I don’t know, they might help. What are they?’ If they had some sort of encoded-vapour transmitter, why weren’t they using it?
‘If you don’t have anything useful to contribute, Forrester, then kindly let George and me get on with our work.’ His tone had changed.
‘Begging your pardon, sir,’ — her emphasis on that last word was so scornful it was mutinous — ‘but all you have me doing at the moment is making the drinks, a spot of typing and watering the office plant. I was brought into the Scientific Intelligence Division on the understanding that I would be able to put my scientific and analytical talents to use. I remind you, sir, that I outrank both Lieutenants Reed and Cwej. I’ve been here a week. In that time, you have welcomed their contributions, but you’re treating me like some third-grade Servobot fit only for housework and preparing snacks. Well, sir, I’ve had enough.’
A vein on Kendrick’s neck pulsed, but when he spoke, his tone was conciliatory. ‘Captain Forrester, your talents may seem very impressive back in Africa and I’m sure that your teachers were delighted that someone with your background could do so well. But I did not give you permission to speak freely. Please be civilized.’ To emphasize his intentions he smiled.
Roz, however, exploded. ‘Civilized? Your state-of-the-art around here, as far as I can make out, seems to consist of cavalry regiments and bayonets. You attempt to work out the tactical analysis of a Continental war by pushing toys around a tabletop. You rely on a network of doddery old men on bicycles to bring in reports of bomb damage. Your air defences seem to be based on the principle that if we all draw our curtains at night then the Germans won’t be able to see us. And don’t you dare question my background, I can trace my ancestry back to Nelson Mandela himself which is
—’
Kendrick